Fooled once again with clear sky and sunny morning, I'm a sucker for that good start to the day.
Breakfast out of the way, Skype with Sue, and then we're off.
First appointment of the day is with a Baron, The Red Baron. Well at least the place he was shot down at Moulancourt Ridge. Initially credited to a Canadian Pilot, more recent evidence suggests he was killed by a shot from the ground adding credence to the Australian claim that he was brought down by Australian Antiaircraft fire.
Just along the ridge is the Australian 3rd Division Memorial, bleak and windswept, with very little to commend it. Initially to be at Viler Bretonneux, they were gazumped by the Army deciding that it should be the Australian National Memorial site.
From there to the Australian Corps Memorial near the village of Le Hamel. This site was chosen as it is where the Australians under the command of John Monash undertook a copybook battle, where within 93 minutes all the objectives of the battle were achieved. In addition, it was also the first battle in which infantry, tanks, artillery and aircraft were all used in a coordinated fashion, with obvious great success.
Then another war cemetery, Dernacourt Community Cemetery, from which the suburb of Dernacourt got its name.
By this time the weather had really taken a dislike to all these Australians wandering around and blew and rained, so we retreated for lunch to The Poppy, a restaurant whose symbol is obvious. Here we were treated to a three course meal, with cheese and coffee. Like any of us needed that! A long lunch it was too!
From there to Villers Bretonneux (V-B) where we visited the Victoria School, which has developed its own museum to commemorate the relief of V-B by Australians. What a cracker of a museum it is too. Excellent information, in French and English, some great photos, and a very good film, at which Walter, my room mate decided he would have a fall. Luckily no damage done other than to his pride!!
Then in the rain and wind to the V-B Memorial proper, in the process of being set up for the dawn service.
Luckily the tower was open, though they were stringing lights and TV cameras throughout the structure.
The view is stunning, right across the territory of the Australian counter attack, that took place on 25th April 1918
It was at this point my second camera battery threw in the towel. No problem, I have a fully charged spare. Replace the flat one and the new is totally flat too. Oh bugger. I now have no batteries for my camera until I get the charger in Paris (Sue is sending it over). Just have to use my iPhone then.
Another open and windswept site. None of the charm of the Canadian Memorial, rather plain tower.
It of course lists 17,000 Australians with no known grave who lost their life in France. Like the Menin Gate is for those who died in Belgium.
The numbers are just too large to imagine really.
We counted seating laid out for 3600, with some spare.
The forecast is for rain and wind. Just great.
Then back to Amiens and the weather started to clear such that on arrival at our hotel we have sunshine.
Off to the local Pakistani restaurant for an Indian meal. Boy to they do a mild beef vindaloo, and I mean mild. Pity that.
Picasa web album pictures
Breakfast out of the way, Skype with Sue, and then we're off.
First appointment of the day is with a Baron, The Red Baron. Well at least the place he was shot down at Moulancourt Ridge. Initially credited to a Canadian Pilot, more recent evidence suggests he was killed by a shot from the ground adding credence to the Australian claim that he was brought down by Australian Antiaircraft fire.
Just along the ridge is the Australian 3rd Division Memorial, bleak and windswept, with very little to commend it. Initially to be at Viler Bretonneux, they were gazumped by the Army deciding that it should be the Australian National Memorial site.
From there to the Australian Corps Memorial near the village of Le Hamel. This site was chosen as it is where the Australians under the command of John Monash undertook a copybook battle, where within 93 minutes all the objectives of the battle were achieved. In addition, it was also the first battle in which infantry, tanks, artillery and aircraft were all used in a coordinated fashion, with obvious great success.
Then another war cemetery, Dernacourt Community Cemetery, from which the suburb of Dernacourt got its name.
By this time the weather had really taken a dislike to all these Australians wandering around and blew and rained, so we retreated for lunch to The Poppy, a restaurant whose symbol is obvious. Here we were treated to a three course meal, with cheese and coffee. Like any of us needed that! A long lunch it was too!
From there to Villers Bretonneux (V-B) where we visited the Victoria School, which has developed its own museum to commemorate the relief of V-B by Australians. What a cracker of a museum it is too. Excellent information, in French and English, some great photos, and a very good film, at which Walter, my room mate decided he would have a fall. Luckily no damage done other than to his pride!!
Then in the rain and wind to the V-B Memorial proper, in the process of being set up for the dawn service.
Luckily the tower was open, though they were stringing lights and TV cameras throughout the structure.
The view is stunning, right across the territory of the Australian counter attack, that took place on 25th April 1918
It was at this point my second camera battery threw in the towel. No problem, I have a fully charged spare. Replace the flat one and the new is totally flat too. Oh bugger. I now have no batteries for my camera until I get the charger in Paris (Sue is sending it over). Just have to use my iPhone then.
Another open and windswept site. None of the charm of the Canadian Memorial, rather plain tower.
It of course lists 17,000 Australians with no known grave who lost their life in France. Like the Menin Gate is for those who died in Belgium.
The numbers are just too large to imagine really.
We counted seating laid out for 3600, with some spare.
The forecast is for rain and wind. Just great.
Then back to Amiens and the weather started to clear such that on arrival at our hotel we have sunshine.
Off to the local Pakistani restaurant for an Indian meal. Boy to they do a mild beef vindaloo, and I mean mild. Pity that.
Picasa web album pictures
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